The Hunger Games

Winning means fame and fortune. Losing means certain death. The Hunger Games have begun ……

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lays the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel. The Capitol forces them all to send one boy and girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV to keep the districts in line.

Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister’s place in the Games. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. Survival, for her, is second nature. If she wants to win the game, she will have to start making choices that weigh survival against humanity and life against love. She has to choose to win the game and lose Peeta, the boy who saved her before when she was near death’s door and loved her; or to lose and die.

How the author portrayed the characters’ personalities, mood and thoughts makes The Hunger Games a breath-taking book with constant suspense. Sometimes, I can relate what I have encountered in my life to the plots, which makes me feel that I’m one of the characters, making the story even more exciting and strained to read. When Katniss shoots an arrow, I can even hear a “whoosh” right beside my ears as if I were there at the Game. Apart from the excitement The Hunger Games has brought me, it also inspired a new lesson of life for me.

A mere look at the setting, the Hunger Games, suggests that life is a competition. If you do not fight for your own survival, people may take advantage of your passiveness. If you do not take action to fight or defend, death may be almost imminent. We can relate the plot to our every day lives. There will be a day that all of us will have to work and face the real world. In order to obtain fortune and fame that is longed by all, competition is inevitable. If you fall behind, a helping hand may never be extended. Living a simple life, such dark and serious realities have never crossed my mind. The Hunger Games has given me guidance I have to know to keep myself “alive”.

Furthermore, the characters and their personalities were so vividly portrayed that it sometimes seems like they have jumped out from the pages to introduce their perspectives to me. Katniss, strong and intelligent, often gives me strength I never thought I have in occasions that I have feared for failure. On the other hand, Peeta, emotional and kind, reminds me that temporary weakness can also be my protective shield; not only people that seems competent can survive. Being a person that is nice to everyone and willing to give all he has for ones he loves can also be another way to survive. Cato and Clove, both Career Tributes trained to attend the game to kill and win, reveals to me that being brutal, cruel, and cold-blooded may lead you to some kind of success, but will also bring severe consequences.

Reading the book has brought me new spectrums of live. I realized how strong people could be when their hearts are filled with love, friendship, courage and spirit of loyalty and self-sacrifice. The bravery that Katniss and Peeta shown in the game has deeply moved me beyond tears. It is very admirable that Katniss volunteered as tribute for her sister and Peeta tried everything to save Katniss in the game. Both kinds of love are rarely seen now in the society that is surrounded by competitions and people trying to win. The Hunger Games is a book that not only teaches me to be a survivor, but also a constantly reminds me the importance to keep our inborn nature of love in our hearts and to be willing to care about others. What The Hunger Games has introduced to me was life changing and will be permanently branded in my mind.